Nashville Family Fun: A Neighborhood Guide to Kid-Friendly Activities

Welcome to Nashville, home of Honky Tonks and Bachelorette Parties. But don’t worry parents! 

Whether you're a local needing fresh ideas or a visitor looking to make some memories – here’s a comprehensive guide of tried and true places and activities to help you get the most out of your family time!

East Nashville

Food

• Tabla Rasa/Soft Service Station: A must-visit for families, offering toys, walkup ice cream, a skate ramp, and a see-saw.
• Rosepepper Cantina: You can’t beat a $3 kids menu and patio seating
• BoomBozz: Everyone wins when you can enjoy a meal while your kids play on the playground.
• East Nashville Beer Works: You have a baby…in a bar! Relax with a drink while your kiddos make the most out of the kids area.
• Jeni's Ice Cream: Yes, we all scream for ice cream, but we promise that Jeni's has enough creative flavors that your kids will be surprisingly quiet while they dig in!
• Lockeland Table: Enjoy Community Hour™ from Monday to Saturday, 4-6 PM, with discounted food options for kids and families, and a portion of the proceeds benefiting the PTOs of schools in and around Nashville. This mission-driven program offers a welcoming environment for friends and families to gather and learn how sharing a meal can sustain a community.
• El Fuego: Featuring a large, fenced-in green area where kids can run and play, allowing you to enjoy your meal undisturbed.

Entertainment

• The Getalong: A children’s store that lives at the corner of cute and cozy and hosts weekly activities like Monday Morning Creative Play and Thursday Mommy & Me Yoga.
• Forevermore Goods: A thrifted and curated goods store with a kids play area, coffee shop, and pastries. A perfect spot to enjoy some time for yourself without feeling guilty for bringing your kids.
• East Side Bowl: 16 lanes of Hyper Bowl, a retro-style diner with a modern menu and an entertainment complex. A community-minded place for friends and families to come together.
• Shelby Park and the Air Park: Perfect for a day out with kids, offering plenty of open space for play. Shelby Park has a playground, pond, the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, nearly 10 miles of paved trails, more than 7 miles of unpaved hiking trails, several sports fields and golf courses, and more!
• Kirkpatrick Spraygrounds: Beat the Nashville heat with kid-operated water equipment! The water area has a special non-slip surface to prevent accidents plus, safety fences surround the area to ensure children stay within the designated space.

12th South

Pro Tip: This small neighborhood is walkable, making it an easy destination for an entire wake window (think: no getting in and out of cars!).

Food

• Wanna Spoon Cereal Bar and Five Daughters Bakery: Satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth with these decadent (and neighboring) treat shops!
• Buttermilk Ranch: Pull up a seat and a highchair and dig into delicious comfort food on their family-friendly patio.
• Fryce Cream: This Nashville restaurant serves nothing but homemade ice cream, crunchy french fries, and beer. 
• Filling Station: Craft beers to-go - perfect to pick up on your stroll around the neighborhood.

Entertainment

• Sevier Park: A local favorite that features two playgrounds with one being specifically designed for toddlers. Plus they host a Tuesday farmers market May - October!

West Nashville

Food

• Tailgate Brewery West: Craft brewery and pizzeria with a spacious family-friendly patio festively decorated with string lights and stocked with games for all ages.
• Hugh Baby’s: Southern hospitality extends to the little ones at this burger and barbecue spot that offers a covered exterior patio with turf and a small play area for kids.
• Frothy Monkey: A cafe that features a large, spacious footprint that's perfect for grabbing coffee with mom friends and their kiddos too!
• Blue Moon Marina: Located on the Cumberland River at Rock Harbor Marina offering a covered patio and live music for the families that like to jam.

Entertainment

• McCabe Park: Ideal for walking or biking, with lots of shade and nearby food options like Pancho and Lefty’s.
• West Park: A great green space that features a huge field, playground, swings, bathrooms, and a paved path.
• L&L Market: Home to 25+ family-friendly vendors, L&L Market on Charlotte Ave. is as a one-stop shop for everything you love in Nashville.
• England Park: A hidden gem with a playground along the creek for when your little adventurer wants to get in touch with nature.
• Richland Farmers Market and Library: Visit on Saturday mornings for fresh produce, then head to the library for a kid's area with puppets, puzzles, and books. Then take the party back outside to the playground next door to get them extra tuckered out for naptime.

West End/Green Hills/Hillsboro

Entertainment

• The Children’s Playroom (Belle Meade): A drop-in daycare offering a safe and affordable childcare option, even if you're from out of town. Open Sunday-Thursday 8 AM-9 PM, and Friday-Saturday 8 AM-11 PM.
• Movies in the Park at Elmington Park (Thursdays): A great summer evening activity for the whole family.
• Cheekwood Estate & Gardens: Attend toddler craft and story time sessions during weekdays.
• Fannie Mae Dees Park: Also known as Dragon Park, Fannie Mae Dees is recently renovated and offers plenty of shade, a rubber mat perfect for kiddos who like to climb, and two playgrounds - one for big kids, one for younger kiddos.

South Nashville/Berry Hill

Food

• Pfunky Griddle: Raising a future chef but tired of getting your kitchen messy? Check out this unique dining experience where you make your own pancakes!
• Mill Creek Taproom: Craft beers pair perfectly with this kid-friendly space for year-round fun.
•   Crieve Hall Bagel: When you need to satisfy that carb craving, head here for handcrafted sourdough bagels and cinnamon rolls!!
• Hugh Baby's: A burger and barbecue spot dedicated to Southern hospitality and making families feel welcome.
• Dozen Bakery: A locally owned bakery business specializing in sweets made using the best (organic and local) ingredients.

Entertainment

• Plaza Mariachi: An incredible experience for all of your senses and for all ages! Enjoy dancing, singing, and performing in a very fun family-friendly environment.
• Nashville Zoo: Is your kid acting like an animal? Try out this Nashville highlight with one of the best playgrounds around!
• Green Hills Park: The park has a well-used 1/3 mile walking path, softball fields, and a batting cage, play equipment for small children, tennis courts, a picnic pavilion, wooden balance beams and jumps, and six disc golf baskets.

Germantown/Downtown

Food

• Surefire Coffee Roaster: Stroll right up to this Germantown coffee shop’s walk-up window and get your beverage to go.
• 3rd and Coffee Park: A short walk from Surefire and other Germantown restaurants, this outdoor park has a play area for kiddos and a splash pad feature.
• Sonny’s: If you want to get out with your four-legged kids in tow, this is a great place to grab a bite with games, a pet-friendly environment, and an outdoor patio.
• Assembly Food Hall: Experience the best of Nashville eateries all under one roof. Welcome to Nashville's Gathering Place.

Entertainment

• Tennessee State Museum (Free): The Children’s Gallery encourages children ages 3-8 to explore, play, and discover Tennessee’s history and culture in a hands-on way. Take a tour of Tennessee by walking along a giant map of the state, stopping along the way to learn what makes Tennessee unique and extraordinary.
• Pins Mechanical: Duckpin bowling, slide for kids, arcade games, skee ball, pinball machines + brews for parents! Be aware of the parking fees as this is in the heart of the Gulch.
• Downtown Farmers Market: Find fresh produce, artisanal food, restaurants, shops and crafts at the year-round Nashville Farmers' Market. Pro Tip: It's next door to the Tennessee Sate Museum so you can grab lunch and walk over for an afternoon of fun!
  
• Frist Art Museum: The perfect place to tap into your creativity, Frist offers an epic craft section with free admission for kids under 18.
• Adventure Science Center: Expand their horizons and blow their minds with tons of hands-on exhibits for curious kids.
• Cumberland Park: A great place to enjoy the outdoors with your family, including a free splash pad in the summer.
• Watkins Park Splash Pad: A small, fenced sprayground with exciting water features to keep kiddos entertained.

Donelson

Food

• Nectar Urban Cantina: cantina-style eats plus healthy juices & bowls, coffee & cocktails. Features a playground and huge outdoor seating area with live music.
• Aquarium Restaurant: A dining experience surrounded by aquatic life that is sure to captivate the kid's attention and imagination.

Entertainment

• Nashville Shores: A waterpark, adventure course, and campground located in Hermitage, Tennessee, along the shore of Percy Priest Lake.
• Altitude Trampoline Park: Over 45,000 square feet of space for trampoline jumping, rock climbing, and dodgeball.
• Two Rivers Park: Take in the sights of lush greenery, winding trails, and scenic river views.
• Tennessee Central Railway Museum: All aboard! A living history museum that offers historical theme-based train rides on select Saturdays.

Franklin

Entertainment

• Pinkerton Park: A spacious park with plenty of play areas and roam.
• Arrington Vineyards: Break out the basket and checkered blanket; this is a lovely spot for a family picnic.

Brentwood

Food

• Blaze Pizza: Located near Granny White Park, with a giant green space next door for kids to run and play.

Entertainment

• Brentwood Splash Park: A fantastic splash pad that’s perfect for hot days when you need to get out of the house.
• Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary: A 300-acre nature sanctuary home to over 2,000 species of local flora and fauna, offering a special place for visitors of all ages to explore the outdoors, learn about native Tennessee wildlife, and connect with nature.
• The Monkey’s Treehouse: The ultimate indoor playground that brings your childs imagination to life! It’s perfect for casual play dates, co-working, drop-off play, special events, and explorative learning.
• The Children’s Playroom (Brentwood): A drop-in daycare offering a safe and affordable childcare option, even if you're from out of town. Open Sunday-Thursday 8 AM-9 PM, and Friday-Saturday 8 AM-11 PM.
• Sky Zone Trampoline Park: Get all of that energy out in the over 45,000 square feet of space for trampoline jumping, rock climbing, and dodgeball.
• Granny White Park: An inclusive space that features playgrounds that are designed for all ages and abilities and offers tons of shade for parents!
• Crockett Park Community Playground: Located at the back of the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater and features toddler friendly rubberized paths, a variety of slide sizes and picnic tables in the shade.